I packed my belongings and moved into a modest flat Id been renting before the wedding.
Ah, there she is! My sons wife will strip us like a leech! shrieked Mrs. Elizabeth Georgina, her voice echoing across the market stalls, and shell hang my illegitimate children on him. She wants all my money!
Mrs. Georgina, calm down, or Ill call the police, I warned the scruffy, poorly dressed old woman, Elsie, there are no outofwedlock children, and you never had a penny to speak of.
Dont you dare, snapped her almostformer motherinlaw, spitting at Elsie before vanishing into the crowd.
Elsie had married Matthew five years earlier. He was a successful, grownup man who owned a chain of supermarkets in the city. Hed spent many years in the capital before returning home.
He told me that his childhood was spent right here, which is why he chose to set up his business locally. His mothers refusal to move anywhere else only helped seal his decision.
Elizabeth Georgina was the only child of Matthews mother, born when she was thirtyseven by a passing stranger. She clutched that son like a treasure.
Matthew didnt disappoint his mother he became a prosperous businessman. The only problem was that his mother could not stand any woman near him.
From the first moment Elsie disliked her, Matthew delayed introducing his future wife to his mother. They were already living together, but he still visited his mother alone each day. Had Elsie known then what that meeting would bring, she would have refused altogether.
Their marriage was something of a modern Cinderella story. Elsie worked at the main city library while Matthew funded one of its educational projects.
They met, chatted about contemporary authors, and soon Matthew, the supermarket magnate, began stopping by the library for books. Their literary tastes matched. Elsie even read the titles she selected for him, then shared her thoughts.
Matthew was a gentleman with the ladies, and even Yvonne, a friend of his, fell for his charm. He whisked her to a soldout exhibition, drove her to a book fair where she met beloved writers, and generally pursued her with the full courtship protocol.
Elsie, an orphan and graduate of library studies, had little experience with the opposite sex. She dressed modestly but possessed classic features and good proportions. To Matthew she was a real gem.
Elsie, shall we marry? he asked one day, its obvious were meant for each other.
No wedding without meeting your mother, Yvonne protested, but Im willing to go without my parents. Your mother lives nearby, though. Would I be ashamed to bring her?
Its not about that, Matthew replied, my mother is elderly and complicated. Why trouble her?
What? We skip the ceremony? Elsie asked, surprised. You expect to get away without her?
No, Matthew sighed, shell have to be invited to the wedding, or shell never forgive me. But do you really need to meet her?
Just the custom, I suppose, Yvonne muttered, what secrets are you hiding?
A week later Matthew warned Elsie that his mother would join them for dinner. Elsie hurried to bake her signature custard tart. The evening turned out far more eventful than shed imagined.
Elizabeth Georgina, though technically old, looked as spry as a twentythreeyearold. At seventyfive she wore a warm skirt to the floor, a padded cardigan, and cosy sheepskin slippers, her glasses perched on a kindly face. Yet her speech was anything but genteel.
Who have you dragged into the house now, you scoundrel? she snapped at her son, she looks like a wanderer, wont let her wear proper trousers!
Mother, this is Elsie, Yvonne, Matthew introduced, a very decent, modest young lady.
And a male name! Could your parents not think of a proper girls name? Elizabeth barked at Elsie, Answer me, what do you want from my son?
Mother, we want to marry, Matthew said patiently, so we thought wed tell you.
Aha, so youre bringing a young wife into the house and sending me out onto the street? Elizabeth wailed, Leaving me without a corner, without a roof?
My sons not going anywhere, nobodys evicting you, Matthew tried, Elsie is good, she loves me. Shell give you grandchildren.
How many? the old lady asked eagerly.
Who, Mother?
How many grandchildren? You speak of illegitimate children. How many? she demanded, eyes wide.
The evening turned into a game of telephone for Elsie, as Elizabeth twisted every comment to her liking. When Matthew took his mother home and returned, Elsie was covering the cooling tart with a cloth, trying not to let it dry out. No one ever sat down to eat that night.
So, satisfied? Matthew snapped, Met the future motherinlaw yet? Whats your impression?
Honestly, I get it. I didnt expect this circus.
Dont call me that name, its rude. My mother cant stand being called a dog. Only Matthew can.
Fine. Maybe we should see a doctor, get some pills to improve her condition.
Mother wont see doctors. Shes been like this all her life, just getting worse with age. Does she really think Ill change my mind about marrying him because of her genetics?
Elsie didnt change her mind. Three months later they wed. Yvonne kept her library job, Matthew ran his business.
The mother ignored the wedding, which Elsie considered a blessing. Nobody knew what performance Elizabeth had planned for the day.
Soon enough, the mother made her presence known at the library.
Wheres that meddling woman? shouted someone at the entrance, leave my son alone. We dont need people like her.
Fancy yourself rich, eh? Dont open your mouth about other peoples bread. Matthew loves his mother, not these girls
A cold sweat ran down Elsies spine. She bolted into the vestibule, where a crowd had gathered around her mother, who was oddly sporting a wicker basket, a summer hat, and sandals in late autumn.
Come with me, Ill offer you tea, Elsie tried to smooth things over, wrapping an arm around her motherinlaw.
Dont touch me! My son told me about the illnesses you contracted in your youth. I dont want that contagion, Elizabeth shrieked, kind people, and yet my son demands I drive his own mother out.
Ive had nothing but a poppyseed for two days. Theyre starving me.
Red with shame, Elsie dialed Matthew. He arrived quickly and took his mother away.
After that incident the staff kept a colder distance from Elsie. A month later the head librarian announced Yvonnes hours were being cut and she was being let go.
At home, the young woman vented to her husband, Thanks to your mother! Now they see me as a carrier of some unknown disease. What a disgrace!
Will you open a private library? Matthew offered consolingly.
Your mother will come and ruin everything, Yvonne sighed, can I have some peace?
From that day Elsie became a housewife, and she noticed things shed never seen before. The motherinlaw visited their home daily. The first time she appeared in the kitchen, Elsie was surprised; the second time she was angry.
Mrs. Georgina, could you at least warn us before you barge in? Elsie asked.
What, did the library finally push you out? the mother replied in a perfectly reasonable tone, didnt you like my words? Did they stick?
Yes, they stuck so well they got me fired, Elsie retorted angrily.
Thats just the flowers. Think youre the first? Im the third wife hes had, and Ive driven all of them away. There could be many of you. My sons mother lives alone. You probably think youve snagged a rich husband and want something for yourself. Nothing will happen that way. The business and the assets are in my name. Hell inherit everything when Im gone, but until then I hold it tight. And Motty wont stand against his mother.
Are you doing this on purpose? Elsie gasped. Of course, why didnt I realise sooner!
Ill call Motty, tell him you threw the old lady out, and hell believe it. He wont say a word, he isnt my son, but hell remember. A drop of water can wear a stone down!
Yvonne merely sighed, realising there was no future for her in that house. Yet she held on for five more years.
During that time Elizabeth accused her of poisoning, of pushing her down stairs, of all sorts of crimes. The final straw came on Matthews fortieth birthday. While Elsie raised a toast to his health and peace, Elizabeth glared at her with pure hatred, then lunged, grabbing her hair, tearing her dress and scattering her hairpins.
This is my son, only my son, she roared, youll never have him, and therell be no peace in this house while Im alive.
Take it then, Elsie said wearily, Happy birthday, Matthew, be happy. She turned and walked out of the hall. Matthew stayed, trying to calm his mother, while Yvonne fled.
She gathered her things and moved into the modest flat shed secured after leaving the childrens home. The next day Yvonne filed for divorce, demanding nothing from her husband. Matthew made no effort to persuade Elsie to stay.
The mother continued her odd behaviour, becoming something of a local eccentric. Trust in Matthew from partners and acquaintances waned. After another market encounter with the mother, Yvonne was sure the last crumbs of respect for him would soon vanish.
Now she didnt care at all.
